City plans to study North Hill for sports complex

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This article was published 02/01/2019 (2445 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The City of Brandon will perform an archaeological study in an area of land on the North Hill where a proposed multimillion-dollar sports field complex is set to be located.

The city has started soliciting bids for a Heritage Resource Impact Assessment after the provincial government flagged a section of land at First Street North and Veterans Way, north of Optimist Park, as an area of concern given its proximity to the Assiniboine River and known archaeological sites and historic trails.

In a statement, a provincial government spokesman said the city was advised that the location could have historic remains or be the site of a cemetery. As a result, a Heritage Resource Impact Assessment is needed before work on the project can begin.

“It is our understanding that the City of Brandon and landowner continue to work together and all appropriate steps will be taken,” the spokesman said.

A quotation document soliciting bids for the assessment was posted to the city’s website on Dec. 24 and will remain open until the beginning of February 2019.

The document said the province’s Historic Resources Branch — a division of Manitoba Sport, Culture and Heritage — examined the proposed location for the sports complex and found that the development could impact what the branch called “heritage resources.”

“The proposed area is located adjacent to the Assiniboine River, an ancient and active riverine feature and historical watercourse route,” the document said.

“Additionally, there are three documented archaeological sites within one kilometre of the proposed area, with two major historic trails converging to the south, indicating this location was well travelled and occupied in the past.”

The Heritage Resources Act can require an owner or developer to do a Heritage Resource Impact Assessment, and mitigation, before a project starts if the minister of sport, culture and heritage has reason to believe that heritage resources or human remains are known, or likely to be present, on the land.

A contract could be awarded in early March, with field work starting the following month or once the ground thaws, city manager of parks operations Bryce Wilson said.

“With the development on any portion of the property we want to use, we would have to get approval now from the province to go ahead after the archaeologist provides them the report,” Wilson said.

He said the work, including the archaeological field study and assessment report, could be finished within a month.

The conceptual design for the proposed sports complex has remained the same since Brandon City Council was first presented with the plan in 2016, following a $56,000 feasibility study from MNP and HTFC Planning and Design, which was paid for by the city and province.

At a cost of at least $6.7 million, the field would include 10 new soccer fields, two football fields, three cricket pitches and eight ball diamonds. The estimate also includes electrical and water services expenses, irrigation infrastructure, drainage, signage and landscaping.

Wilson said depending on what is needed at the site, costs could increase to $8 million or $10 million.

The city has a committee tasked with developing the project, but Wilson said the project is still in its early stages.

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